press

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To push firmly against something.

   Press the button to start the machine.

2. 2
   verb

   To squeeze something, often to get liquid out of it.

   They press grapes to make wine.

3. 3
   verb

   To make clothes smooth and flat using a hot iron.

   Could you press my shirt before the interview?

4. 4
   verb

   To crowd or move closely together.

   The fans pressed forward to see the singer.

5. 5
   noun

   The act of pushing on something.

   A quick press of the switch turned on the lights.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Press is an Old English word whose history can be traced back to Latin premere “to press.” Its sense “journalists and the newspaper industry” arose in the late 18th century from the printing press, after press had already denoted a printing house or publisher.

From Middle English pressen (“to crowd, thring, press”), from Old French presser (“to press”) (Modern French presser) from Latin pressāre, from pressus, past participle of premere "to press". Displaced native Middle English thringen (“to press, crowd, throng”) (from Old English þringan (“to press, crowd”)), Middle English thrasten (“to press, force, urge”) (from Old English þrǣstan (“to press, force”)), Old English þryscan (“to press”), Old English þȳwan (“to press, impress”).

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary